Rabbi Michael Lerner and Rev. J. Alfred Smith Sr. of the Allen Temple Baptist Church announced today a new initiative emerging from the religious left in the U.S. in response to McCutcheon vs. FEC, the Supreme Court decision from April 2,2014, that banned limits set by the Federal Election Committee on the total that could be spent by any individual in an election. The previous limit was $123,200. Now there is no limit on the total a wealthy individual can donate in a given election cycle. In response to the decision, Rabbi Lerner said:

The Supreme Court is continuing its recent turn to give the super-rich and the richest corporations unlimited power to shape American elections and the government policies that will be enacted by these candidates once in office. This can only be reversed by an amendment to the Constitution, and we’ve designed it: the ESRA – Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment. That amendment will ban all money from elections for the president, the Congress, the governors, and the legislatures of the several states except for money provided by public funding for elections.

MoveOn and other organizations have organized protests against this decision, and many ordinary citizens are outraged. But, Lerner pointed out, “this is not going to be changed by demonstrations, but only by a concerted campaign to pass a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution.” [Please read the ESRA at www.tikkun.org/ESRA]

Commenting on the proposed amendment supported by an organization called Move to Amend, which would overturn “Citizens United,” Lerner pointed out that McCutcheon vs. FEC now makes clear that only an amendment that mandates public funding of elections and banning all other sources of money and influence. He added:

The super-rich would still shape elections even if restrictions, such as those incorporated into Move to Amend’s proposed Constitutional amendment, were constitutionally allowed on corporate spending. Only the ESRA would actually get money out of politics – the Move to Amend proposal won’t accomplish that, so when people spend years trying to get it passed they will end up, should they succeed, with an amendment that really doesn’t constrain the super-rich who currently shape elections. Now will it constrain the other way money in politics shapes public policy – the way that corporations can threaten to move out of the city, state or even country if governments start to constrain their ability to produce environmentally unsustainable products, require a livable wage, or tax them adequately to fund necessary social services. It is this power of corporations that gives them immense influence in shaping public policies at the city, state and national levels, and hence the big money will continue to prevail even if Move to Amend were to pass. Not so with the ESRA – please read it at www.tikkun.org/ESRA.

Understanding that a Constitutional Amendment will take a massive effort, and will take many years, Lerner and Smith invited American churches, synagogues, mosques, ashrams and zendos, religiously oriented colleges and universities, and all other religious institutions to mobilize to get money out of politics!

“This is the contemporary continuation of Jesus’ struggle to get the moneychangers out of the Temple,” said Pastor Smith. “Our holy democracy is being undermined by the distorting influence of corporations and the super-rich, and it’s time for us to throw the money people out of politics and create a level playing field in which everyone has equal impact. The ESRA does that.”

[Note to our readers: Please both paste this on your Facebook or other social media page AND get this to your local media, and ask them to either print it or to interview Rabbi Michael Lerner whom they can reach at rabbilerner.tikkun@gmail.com. And please let the new executive director of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, Cat Zavis, know if you would be willing to help get an endorsement of the ESRA from your local city council, state legislature, or Member of Congress (your Congressman and/or Senators). Cat can be reached at cat@spiritualprogressives.org. Meanwhile, please re-read the ESRA at www.tikkun.org/ESRA]

8 Responses to “The Religious Left Launches Campaign for a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn McCutcheon Decision and Get Money Out of Politics”

Understanding your representation of many Jewish people who might disapprove of the example given of Jesus defying the money-changers in the Temple……….yet appreciating how strongly that very image can speak to hearts of many many people…………I would like to offer the addition of the example of Moses smashing the Holy Tablets upon witnessing the Golden Calf worshippers’ orgy in the Sinai desert.

The corporate oligarchy that we have allowed to almost completely trash our democracy, our economy, our environment, and our social compact doesn’t care whether you’re Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, or Sun Worshiper. They have gotten us into a situation so dire that it is impossible for most people (yet) to understand that it is real. The U.N. (IPCC) says that we’re close to catastrophe. NASA (!) says that we’re nearing the collapse of industrial civilization.

Forget the quibbling over choice of images! Rabbi Lerner is making a vital point here; we MUST get our democracy back. Merely repealing a couple of lunatic Supreme Court decisions will not do the job; we must remove all undue influence (whether corporate, from rich individuals or whatever) from our electoral and legislative processes. One (human) person; one vote. All elections should be publicly funded (taxes); how else can the power of each individual’s vote be equal to every other person’s?

That equality is the very essence of democracy, and it has been almost completely lost. We must get it back and we must do so with love. You don’t curse the infant for trying to play with matches but neither do you let it near the matches; far and away the best way I’ve yet seen to stop these particular infants from completely burning our house down is the E.S.R.A. We should spread the word about it everywhere and every way we can.

See my post on the pastor’s article. I do think ESRA is a good idea. However, it will take much more work than many of us know or are willing to think about. Every movement that has brought gains to the people in this nation has come as the result of struggle – and people being willing to put all they have – including their lives, on the line.

We live in a nation where all the gains people fought and died for during the depression (the 8 hour day, pensions, breaks, unions, etc, and on and on) have been all but lost. Only few have these protections now. During the 50s and 60s and early 70s people fought, went to jail and some died – for civil rights and to end the vietnam war. Others struggled for changes to our intelligence and campaign finance reform after Watergate.

Now, we must struggle as never before because this threat surpasses all that came before it and can lead to the very destruction of our planet. If this capital/corporate state is allowed to stand – they will do worse then other fascists before them have done – and this time those killed will not be only Jewish people,the disabled and the old – but every living thing and the earth itself!

So, we must challenge ourselves and look within and to our Creator to gain the courage and vision we need to pursue this path. Are we willing to see the horror of what is really happening here? And if we do see it, are we willing to put our very beings into making these changes, in any and every way we can. Our very lives, and the lives of our children, grandchildren and every living being depends on us to act – the very world itself depends on us – and the light of the Creator thru us – to change the world.

ESRA, which I and numerous other members of NSP have supported for years is a great response to the McCutcheon decision. It’s sponsor in Congress , Keith Ellison, needs all the help available to get it considered by the House.
It made no sense to go on a tangent by arguing that ESRA is superior to the “Move to Amend” proposal.
If ESRA is to have any chance of getting to the floor of the House. NSP needs to
forge alliances with secular allies.
Only by getting ESRA to the floor will it get
the attention of the media and the American People.
Criticizing another group’s similarly intended proposal — with regard to campaign finance –
(ESRA goes way beyond this issue) is not the way “… to make friends and influence people.”

Federally funded elections. How do we pressure Congress to vote to stop the easy money it is being bribed with?

Truth in politics. How do we get back to politicians are expected to have integrity? Honesty?
Term limits would help. No revolving door would be good. Laws requiring politicians to meet and talk with all classes of people in their districts would be beneficial. Creating a fair, easy and open access to the voting booth would help. Truth and accurate naming of legislative Bills, ie no “Patriot Act” titles. Congress not allowed to pass its responsibilities such as going to war over to the President would help.

Public schools for all kids. Community respect and pay for teachers. Educating our kids to question authority. Teaching the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and how they have changed and been watered down and even ignored. Teaching kids that discussing politics is not impolite. Creating a culture where teachers are leaders and participants in learning and not test givers and dictators. History classes that are accurate, truthful and honest. Teaching what are a citizens rights and what are the rights and permissions of police officers.

Requiring our local police to return to community policing. Paid attendance by police at community association meetings. Allowing the police to administer street justice and getting parents involved in behavior problems. Enabling police to give on the spot awards for good behavior or good driving as well as punitive actions.

Creating a culture where attending political discussions is part of a citizens duties.

Thomas Paine said it during the Revolution, but it is just as true now, “THESE are the times that try men’s souls.”

Rabbi Michael Lerner and Rev. J. Alfred Smith Sr. of the Allen Temple Baptist Church are providing the vital leadership that is absolutely necessary at this moment in history. The critical root of this leadership is to reject money in politics and draw on the unvanguishable power of the people “people power” that can turn this horrible situation around. Now we will see where the moral authority of our viable existence may be.